Nov. 15, 2017 – Sappi North America, a producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, committed $5.94 million to replace the headbox on Paper Machine 12 (PM12) in its Cloquet, Minn., mill.
The PM12 Headbox project was recently completed in October.
The investment allowed Sappi to maintain its capacity by adding a dilution profiled headbox. A headbox is an integral part of the paper machine responsible for spreading the pulp fibres evenly to form the sheet.
“This investment shows Sappi’s unwavering commitment to its graphic papers and packaging customers,” said Mark Gardner, president and CEO, Sappi North America. “The new headbox will ensure that we’re fulfilling orders to the highest quality standards that Sappi’s customers have come to expect. This project will not only improve upon our longstanding history with the graphic papers market, but also support our growing paper-based packaging business.”
The headbox project follows a $170-million investment in 2011 that enabled the mill’s kraft pulp operations to also produce chemical cellulose used in textile and consumer goods markets. Through this product diversification, along with investments in renewable energy and waste reduction, the mill has stayed profitable and competitive in a challenging market.
Print this page
